Dishwasher



Jan. 27, 1925. I 1,524,458

J. SIMONS DISHWASHER Original Filed May 10, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 27, 1925 1,524,458

' V J. SIMONS DISHWASHER Original Filed May 10, 1921 4 Shets-Sheel; 2

.1 an a 71 Jan. 1925- r 1,524,458

J. slMoNs DISHWASHER Original Filed May 10, 19 21 4 sheetswsneet 5 Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNIT-En STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

JAY SIMONS, OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA DISHWASHER.

Application filed May 10, 1921, Serial No. 468,208. Renewed December 19, 1924.

' To all whom it may conccm:

Be it known that l, JAY SIMoNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Homestead, in l the county of Dade and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dishwashers; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The presentdnvention relates to dish washers, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that kind which is useful for Washing dishes, cooking utensils, chinaware, silverware, and the like, and which is sanitary andefiicient in use.

An object of the invention is the provision of a washing machine having novel means for directly water and air against the dishes and other articles with considerable force, for washing, rinsing, drying and the provision of such a washing machine cooling the dishes in succession, all in one continuous operation. r

Another object is the provision of a novel rotary fan withmeans for supplying water to the blades, whereby such blades will break up the water into a fine spray and direct such spray of water against the dishes with considerable force, for softening and loosening the accumulations and foreign matter from the dishes.

A further object is the provision in'connection with a rotary fan or spraying de-' racks or,holde.'rs of. novel form for holding dishes, knives, forks, spoons, drinking glasses, and the like. I Another object is the provision of a novel actuating mechanism for the fan or spraying} device and the racks or holders. he invention hasfor a further object comprising a novel arrangement and assemblage of the component elements, in order to provide for the efiicient operation their lower term of the machine and to enhance the utility thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the invention is more fully understood, the invention resides in the construction and arrange-i mentof parts as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the, scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I

The invention is illustrated in the accompa'nying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical'scction thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, portions being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the valve tube adjuster in releasing position as when opening or closing the lid or cpver. F Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rack or holder for knives, forks, and spoons.

Fig. ,6 is a plan view of the rack or holder for plates, saucers and similar dishes.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the rack or holder for drinking glasses or tumblers.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

F 5g. 9 is a fragmentary elevation showingra modification. v

ig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 2.

The machine comprises a suitable casing 11, preferably of sheet metal, having the inclined bottom 12 which slopes to a drain faucet 12, whereby the water will drain readily from the casing when said faucet is open. The casing 11 is mounted on a suitable base 13 which can have legs 14 to support it on the floor or other surface. The casing has a lid or cover 15 hinged to the rim of the casing 11, as at 16, so that said lid can be swung open upwardly, and the lid, when closed, is fastened down by suitable catches 17.

Disposed within the casing at different points around the central vertical axis of the casing are a plurality of upstanding rock shaftsflS as shown) which have bearings 19 in thebottom 12 of the casing and base 13. Said shafts 18 are thus supported in upright position within the casing,

and their upper terminals, are journaled v is journaled in suitable of the upper ends of the shafts 18.

said shafts in vertical position. In order that all of the shafts 18 will be actuated in unison, sprocket Wheels 22 are secured thereon near the bottom of the casing 11, andan endless sprocket chain 23 passes aroundgsaid 1 sprocket wheels, so that the actuation of any one shaft 18 will similarly actuatethe others.

The shafts 18 are for the purpose of supporting the racks or holders for the dishes 2 and other articles to be washed, and suitable racks or holders are provided, includin one or more racks 24 for plates, saucers, and other dishes, one or more racks 25 for drinking glasses or tumblers, and one or more 25 racks 26 for knives, forks', spoons and the like. These and similar racks are slipped down on the shafts 18, when the lid and the spider are raised, and said racks are supported in the desired vertical positions by spacing sleeves 27 of different lengths fitted on said shafts below and between the racks. The shafts 18 are of square or noncircular cross section from the sprocket wheels 22 to their upper terminals and the sleeves 27 are of similar cross section. The racks 24, 25 and 26 will be described in de-,

tail hereinafter.

The fan or spraying device comprises a vertical tubular shaft 28 having its lower terminal portion journaled in suitable bearings 29 provided in the casing bottom and base 13 and gear frame 13 of thebase,whereby to support said shaft 28 for free rota tion. The fan blades 30 are secured to the shaft 28 in any suitable mannerand extend radially therefrom in vertically spaced positions. The blades 30 have flanges 31'at their upper and lower edges extending forwardly, to prevent the water from spreading too far so as to pass off of the upper and lower edges of the blades, and to bompel the water to be thrown outwardly away from the shaft 28 when said shaft is rotated 'ata high speed. The shaft 28 has water nozzles extending in front of the blades 30 for delivering the water to the front sides of the blades, so as to break up the streams or jets of water into .a fine spray and to discharge the water from the blades in fan-shaped streams when the fan is rotated with sufficient velocity. The

fan-shaped streams are disposed-vertically, and being distributed on different sides of the shaft28 and in different verticalposi tions will deliver the water from th center which the dish racks or holders may be 10* cated on the shafts 18. The lid 15 and spider 20 have central openings 33 for receiving the upper terminal of the shaft 28 in order to support said shaft in proper vertical position when in operation. It is also preferable to provide a cylindrical screen 34 of coarse or large mesh surrounding the fan, to prevent the possible contact of the dishes with the fan blades as would be apt to break the dishes or cause other damage. The screen 34 is mounted on and rises from the bottom 12 of the casing and thereby serves as a guard for the fan.

The actuating mechanism for the fan shaft 28 and rock shafts or posts 18 includes a gear pinion 35 secured on the lower terminal of the shaft 28 and meshing with a gear wheel 36 mounted on a short vertical shaft 37 journaled in the frame 13" and base 13. A bevel gear 38 secured to the gear Wheel 36 meshes with .the bevel gear 39 secured on a horizontal shaft 40 journaled in the frame 13, and said shaft 40 is connected by bevel ears 41 with the lower end of a vertical s aft 42 journaled for rotation in an extension 43 of the frame 13 which projects upwardly at one side of the casing. A bevel pinion 44 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 42, and meshes with a bevel gear wheel 45 secured to a drive shaft 46 journaled in theiupper portion of the extension 43 and havin dcrank handle 47 for manual operation. he crank 47 in being rotated will drive the shaft 28 at a high speed of rotation, such as is necessary to take advantage of centrifugal action for spraying the water from the fan. The lower end of one of the, shafts 18 is connected by bevel gears 48 with 'a short horizontal rock shaft 49 journaled in the base 13 and having a crank 50 connected by a pitman 51 with a gear wheel 52 mounted in the frame 13 and meshing with a gear .pinion 53 secured on the shaft 40. Thus, when the fan is rotated at a high speed, the rotation of the gear wheel 52 at a much slower speed,.will oscillate the shaft 49, thereby slowing oscillating shafts 18 and turning racks 24, 25 and 26, back and forth through an angle of about ninety degrees so that the water will be directed against the dishes and other articles on all sides thereof. 1 I

One or more oil cups 54 can be provided for the bearings and other means afforded for lubrication.

The flow of water into and through the nozzles 32 is controlled by a valve tube 55 fitted for longitudinal sliding movement in the shaft 28 and having apertures 56 to register with the nozzles for the flow of water from within the tube 55 through the nozzles .to the fan blades 30. 'A feather or spline of the casing throughout the entire I ace in 57 is used to compel the tube 55 to rotate to be raised and lowered for increasing or decreasing the discharge of water, as

may be desired.

The water is supplied from a tank or reservoir. 58 having feet 59 seated on seats 60 on the lid 15 andse-t screws 61; are car ried by the seats 60 for holding the feet 59 thereon to prevent. the tank from being displaced, although said tank can be readily removed b y loosening the set screws 61. A bowl 62 is carried by the tank at a lower level than the bottom of the tank and at one side thereof, to be disposed above the shaft Y28 and tube 55, and said bowl has a depending discharge'spout 63 on which a coupling member 64 is swivelled .to connect with the upper end-of the valve tube 55. .The lower end-of the coupling member 64 is tapered, as at 65,-to fit snugly within upper tapered end of the bore of the tube 55, and the telescoped ends of the. spout 63" and member'64 have the outturned and inturned flanges .66 and 67, respectively, betweenwhich packing 68 is disposed to prevent leakage. The member 64 is also slidable on the spout 63 and is yieldingly depressed by a coiledexpansion spring 69 surrounding the spout and confined between. the member 64 and bottom of the bowl 62. Thus, when the lid 15 is down in lace and the tank 58 on,tl1' lid, the mem er 64 will fit down withi upper end of the. tube 55, under the tension of the spring 69, to prevent leakage between the member 64 and tube .55, and said member will rotate with the tube around the spout-63. The member 64 can also move up and down with the valve w to.

tube 55.

charge of water from the tank into the bowl connects the levers 74 to swing them toward one another when the member 81 is turned to the position as seen in Fig. l, with .its major axis midway between the levers 74, whereby the lugs 78 engage in the apertures 77. Those ends of the levers opposite to the lugs 78 have overlapping and hinge'dly connected cars 86 apertured to receive a screw 87, which has the lower end pivoted, as at 88, or otherwise attached to the lid. A nut 89 is threaded on said screw and the corre sponding ends of the levers bear upwardly against said nut. Thus, when the member 81 is turned to permit the levers 7 4 toswing toward oneanother and the lugs 7 8 to enter is supported from the levers, and the tu e 55 is therefore suspended from the collar, t ereby tending to swing the levers 74 on the lugs 79 to raise the opposite ends of the le vers. By adjusting the nut 89, the levers 74 are swung to either raise or lower the tube 55 for increasing or decreasing the flow of water. fromthe valve tube through the nozzles 32. The position of the valve tube is indicated by a graduated post or scale 90 rising from the lid 15 and cooperable with one of the levers 74, so that said levers in being swung to adjust the valve tube 55 to diiferent vertical positions will indicate on:

' ofraising the lid 15. *Theflevers 7.4 have notches 84 in which the ends of themem'ber" 81 engage to lydgthe le versseparated until 62 into which thefaucet extends andjhe thedid'ifigam closed. The member 81 has finger pieces 83 thereon for convenience in discharge of'wateriscontrol-led by a spigot or valve 7 1'.' The bowl 62 is kept filled with water up to a predetermined level by means of a float 72 in thebowl having 'a valve 73 to seat upwardly against the faucet 70, as seen in Fig.8, to prevent the further entrance of water into the bowl, until the water level islowered and the float is moved downwardly away from the faucet.

The adjusting means for the valve tube 55 includes a pair of levers 74, and a'collar 75 fitted in an annular groove 76 in the up per protruding end portion of thetube 55, said collar having oppositeapertures 77 for receiving lugs 78 projecting from the levers near one end thereof. Said levers are provided between their ends-with fulcrum lugs 79 entering a peripheral groove v80 in a fulcrum member and cam 81,.which is of ellip-' tical form and disposed between said levers at one side of the tube 55. The member 81 is mounted for rotation on an upstanding post 82 secured. on the lid, and a spring 85 turning said member.

spoons comprises a sleeve 100 ofsquare cross section to slip down on any one of the shafts 18, and arms extending from said sleeve. Each of said arms includes a pairof wires 101 secured at their inner ends to the sleeve 100 and provided with depending kinks 102 forming notches or seats in which the knives, forks and spoons can be placed. The Wires 101 of each arm are twisted together at the outer end of the arm to,form a supporting leg 103 having a foot 104 to rest on a table or other surface, and-the arms are preferably arranged at an obtuse angle with one another so that the legs 103 and sleeve'100 form a three-point support to prevent the rack from tilting orfalling over while being filled when resting on a table or other sup rt.

' T eplate and saucer rack or holder 24- to fit down on the shafts 18 and arms extending from said sleeve. and also arranged at an angle with onezanotheiz Each arm includes a pair of upper wires 106 'havmg pairs of oblique kinks 107 for receiving the opposite edgesof the plates or saucers, as seen in Fig. 6,and allower wire 108 having kinks 109 forreceivin the lower edges of the plates or saucers, t iereby holding them in place. The outer ends of each set of wires 106 and 108 also have a supporting leg 110 similar to the legs 103 for supporting the rack on a table or other surfape, while being filled or emptied.

The rack or holder 25 for drinking tumblers or glasses has a sleeve 111 to fit on the shafts 18 and arms comprising the wires 112 twisted together, as at 113, to form the loops or receptacles 114 for receiving the tumblers or glasses which are usually tapered. The forward loops. 114 are larger than the rear ones for the convenient insertion of the tumblers and to snugly hold them in place in the loops and to prevent the tumblers passing on backwardly out of the loops. Each arm has a leg 116 at its outer end similar to the legs 103 of the rack 26, and a retaining wire or member 117 has an eye 118 at one end engaging the corresponding leg 1l6-to hingedly connect said member 117 to the outer end of the corresponding arm and said member 117 has the offset portions 119 to enter the mouths of the tumblers 115 when the member 117 is swung inwardly adjacent to the arm after the tumblers are inserted. The free end of each member 117 has a hook 130 to engage the front wires 112 of the arm and thus hold said member in place to prevent the tumblers sliding forwardly M of the loops or receptacles 114.

Any' numbfandvarietyof the racks or holders canbe used, having the sle evstobe' fitted down'on the shafts 18 when the lid 15 and spider 20 are raised, and the spacing sleeves 27 can be used for spacing the racks V apart and supporting themin different vertical ositions-asmay be desired. The racks can ailso be placed on the shafts in different positions for the-most effective delivery of t e water and air from the fan against the dishes or other articles while being oscillated with said shafts. i

v In using the machine, the dishes and other articles are'placed within the racks and such racks are then. placed on the rock shafts or posts 18 when the lid 15 and spider 20 are in raised position, suitable spacing sleev 27 also being fitted on said shafts forsupporting said r'acks, to suitably arrange the racks and dlshes around the central fan.

' After the racks and dishes are placed within,

the casing, the spider 20 is swung down on the casing and the upperends of the shaft 28'and dish rack shafts 18 inserted in the respective apertures'in said spider. The lid 15 is now swung down on'the spider, and fastened by the catches 17. The member 81 is then turned to enable the lugs 78 to move into the apertures 77 of the collar 75.v The tank 58 is then filled with water of suitable temperature, and is supplied with soap from a liquid soap cup 99 attached to the tank, a valve 98 controlling the flow of soap from the cup 99 into the tank. The water flows from thetank through the faucet 70, when the spigot 71 is opened, into the bowl (i2 and down through the s out (53 and coupling member 64 into "the va ve tube 55. The doupling member 64 seats snugly within the upper end of saidtube 65. The actuating mechanism is now driven whereby to rotatethe fan shaft 28 and tooscillate the shafts 18. Then when the fan is rotating at high speed, say between 1500 and 2000 revolutions per minute, and the water is ad mitted to the bowl 62 from the tank 58, the nut 89 isturned so as to move the valve tube 55 and bring thipertuirsjfi wtially into registration withthe nozzles 32,- so thatthe a.

water is discharged in jets in front of the fan blades 50. The water in being struck by the blades will break up into a fine spray, and the centrifugal action will throw the water or spray radially from the shaft 28 against the dishes and articles supported 96 from the shafts 18. The water is thus directed with considerable force against the dishes, for loosening the foreign matter therefrom, and cleaning the articles. The racks being oscillated slowly during the op- 1 eration, Wlll present the different sides of the objects to the water sprays, so as to dislodge the foreign matter from the dishes as the racks can be arranged on the shafts 18 so that oscillation of the racks will pro 1015 sent the opposite sides of the dishes to the 1 water sprayed against them. The drain the sides of the casing can drain. out, thereby 1I1 l cleaning the casing at the same time. The valve tube55 is kept full of water during the washing action, inasmuch as the valve 72 will maintain the water level in the bowl 62,-the flow of the water from the tank 11 o nl being shut off when the water level rises in the bowl to seat the valve 73 of said float against the faucet 72. g

After thedishes have been washed with hot water, they can be rinsed, by pouring fresh hot water in the tank 58 and shutting off the supply. of soap by closing the valve 98. The clear water is then sprayed. against the dishesfand willrinse same thorou as well as rinsi the interior of'the casing, 1 so that the machine is self-cleanin without the necessityfor stopping to drain out the water.

Todry the dishes, the lovers 74am first disconnected from the valve tube 55, by turning the member 81 to separate said levers, as seen in Fig. 3, thereby removing the lugs 78 from the collar 75. The lid 15 is now raised to open osition, and by continuing the rotation of t e fan,-air is delivered from the fan to the dishes, thereby evaporating the moisture therefrom. This action of the air can also be used, if continued, for cooling the dishes should they be too hot to handle.

Then, by raising the spider 20, the racks can be readily lifted off the shafts 18 for removing the dishes.

The dishes are placed on the racks so as to be self-draining, to avoid the accumulation of water in the dishes, and the racks are preferably .made of such material or are covered or coated to prevent the scratching of silverware, nicking of dishes, and other injuries to the articles. a

The oscillation of the dish racks during the cleansing action, will cause the waterto be directed against the dishes from differentangles, thereby facilitating the'loosening of matter clingin to the dishes. The machine is economical 1n the consumption of water and soap, and is also sanitary.

The actuating mechanism can be powerdriven from any suitable source of power.

I nected to the lower terminal portions of said the casin Thus, as seen in Fig. 9, a pulley wheel 41 is mounted loosely on t e shaft 40' of the. ac

tuating gearing mounted in the base frame 13' and is connected to said shaft by means of a suitable clutch 42' operated by a suitable hand lever 47. Thus, by swinging the hand lever 47, the clutch can be opened and closed for stopping and starting the machine at will. I

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A washing machine comprising a casing, a central water spraying fan within said casing, upstanding shafts within said casing at different sides of said fan, article racks fitted removably on said shafts, means for supporting said racks. at different vertical positions on said shafts, and means for actuating said fan and said shafts for changing the positions of said racks during the operation of the fan.

2. A washing machine comprising a casing, a central water spraying fanwithin said casing, upstanding shafts within said. casing at different sides of said fan, article racks fitted down on said shafts, and means for actuating said shafts for changing the positions of said racks.

3. A washing machine comprising a casing having a bottom and base, afan within having a vertical shaft, another verticals aft within the casing, the lower terminals of said shafts bein ]ournaled in said bottom and base, an article rack fitted down on the second named shaft, means conshafts for actuating them, and a member removably seated on the, casing and hi means for i'eceiving'the upper terminal s df said shafts.

4. A washing machine comprising .a casing having a bottom and base, an upstanding shaft having its lower terminal journaled in said bottom and base, article racks having sleeves fit-ted removably down on said shaft and means for supporting said racks in different positions, means connected to the lower terminal portion of said shaft for actuating it to change the position of said racks, and spraying means within the casing for directing water against articles held by said racks.

5. A water spraying fan having blades, and means for supplying water in front of said blades including nozzles extending to the front sides of the blades.

6. A washing machine comprising a rotary water spraying fan havinga shaft and blades, and means for supplying water from within said shaft in front of said blades. 7. A washing machine comprising a rotary water spraying fan having a tubular shaft and bladescarried ,by said shaft, water discharge nozzles extending from the shaft in front of the blades, andmeans' for supplying water into said shaft to discharge through said nozzles.

8. A washing machine comprising a rotary water spraying device havlng a tubular shaft with .water discharging means a valve tube slidable in said shaft for controlling the discharge of water, means for rotating said shaft, and means for adjusting said tube to control the discharge of water.

9. A Washingmachinecomprising a casing having a bottom and base, an upstanding tubular shaft having its lower terminal portion journaled for rotation in said said bottom and base, said shaft having means for the discharge and spraying of water within said casing, a valve tube fitted within said shaft and adjusted vertically for controlling the discharge of water, means for delivering water downwardly into said tube, and means connected to the upper end'portion of said tube for adjusting it vertically.

10. A washing machine comprising a casing, a. lid for the casing, a tubular shaft mounted in the casing having water dischar 'ng and spraying means, a valve tube slida le in said shaft for controlling the discharge of water, means above said lid for delivering water downwardly into said tube, and means mounted on said lid and having a detachable connection with the up er end portion. of said tube for adjustin t etube in said shaft and to be disconnecte from the tube for raising the lid.

11. A washing machine comprising a casing, a lid for the casing, spraymg means within the casing including a tube for receiving water, and means supported by the lid for supplying water having a detachable slip connection with said tube.

12. A Washing machine comprising a easing, a lid for the casing, spraying means Within the casing including a vertically ad- 'ustable' Water receiving tube, means carried y the lid for supplying water including a spout, and means for the detachable connection of said spout and tube including a spring-pressed coupling member slidably engaging one of them and having a slip connection with the other.

13. A washing machine comprising spraying means including a water receiving tube, a water supply tank, a bowl having a spout for connection with said tube, the tank having a faucet to deliver the water into said bowl, and a float in the bowl having a valve portion to seat against said faucet when the bowlis filled up to a predetermined level.

14. A washing machine comprising a casing, a lid for the casing, spraying means Within the casing including a Water receiving 15. An article rack for a dish washing machine of the kind described, comprising a sleeve to fit on a shaft having arms extendng therefrom at an angle with one another, said arms being formed of wires and having bent portions for holding the articles, and i said arms having legs at their outer ends to seat on a surface with said sleeve when filling or emptying the rack.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAY SIMON S. Witnesses:

JOHN E. HoLLANn, M. G. KENT. 

